The Americas
Brazilian workers file civil lawsuit against Starbucks in the US
A raid on a raid by Brazilian authorities on a coffee farm in the state of Minas Gerais in June 2024 has resulted in a new civil lawsuit being filed in the US against the global coffeehouse Starbucks by plantation workers who allegedly faced appalling conditions on the farm. An official report found that workers had been subjected to “child labor in hazardous conditions”, and had been “trafficked and subjected to slavery-like conditions.” According to The Guardian, “unpaid and without protective equipment such as boots and gloves” some workers faced “scorching sun from 5.30am to 6pm with only a 20-minute lunch break,” until they were rescued in the raid.
Eight workers have now filed a civil lawsuit in the US against Starbucks, with the support of International Rights Advocates (IRA), seeking financial compensation for the harm they allege to have suffered. In a statement, a Starbucks spokesperson said: “The cornerstone of our approach to buying coffee is Coffee and Farmer Equity (Cafe) Practices, one of the coffee industry’s first set of ethical sourcing standards when it launched in 2004 and is continuously improved.”
Domino’s reports mixed results for the first quarter 2025
Pizza chain Domino’s has reported a mixed set of financial results for the first quarter of 2025, including a 0.5% same-store sales decline. This was offset, however, with 2.5% revenue growth that the giant says has been driven by higher franchise advertising revenues.
“I’m proud of how our team effectively executed our Hungry for More strategy,” said the chain’s CEO Russell Weiner of its five-year (2024-2028) operational plan focused on growth and market share, achieved through four pillars: ‘Most Delicious Food’, ‘Operational Excellence’, ‘Renowned Value’, and ‘Enhanced by Best-in-Class Franchisees’ and ‘Team Members’. “Against the backdrop of consumer and industry headwinds, we drove market share gains across both our US and international businesses. Sustained market share growth reflects the company’s ability to control what’s under its control, a key to long-term success,” he added.
Asia Pacific
Radisson Blu Hotel, Ha Long Bay opens on iconic Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site
Radisson Hotel Group has announced the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Ha Long Bay, located close to Bai Chay Beach and minutes from the city’s most iconic landmarks, Hạ Long Bay, which was first listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, in recognition of its outstanding, universal aesthetic value. “The hotel blends stylish surroundings with warm Vietnamese hospitality to create an unforgettable base for business and leisure travelers,” says the Group of the new hotel, which boasts 352 spacious rooms and suites that feature floor-to-ceiling glass that “frame either sweeping bay vistas or tranquil bay scenes, immersing guests in Ha Long’s natural beauty from sunrise to starlit night.”
“Opening the door to Radisson Blu Ha Long Bay is a celebration of culture, community, and connection,” says Christina Gutierrez-Dumaraos, Radisson Blu Hotel Ha Long Bay general manager. “Our team proudly welcomes the world with authentic Vietnamese warmth and world-class hospitality, perfectly complemented by the stunning beauty of one of the world’s most iconic landscapes.”
Japan weighs up increasing US rice imports
The Japanese government has said it is considering importing more US rice as a possible bargaining chip to use in its tariff negotiations with President Trump, according to a senior official in the Ishiba administration. The move, which will inevitably face strong opposition from Japan’s farming community, has been proposed to offset the US government’s criticism of Japan’s rice import and distribution system as a trade barrier, alleging it is “highly regulated and nontransparent.”
Talks between the two nations in Washington D.C. on April 16, saw US officials expressing an interest in exporting more farm produce, such as meat, citrus fruit, potatoes and rice, to Japan, government sources said.
Europe, Africa, Middle East
Michelin-starred chef Jonnie Boer dies
Dutch chef Jonnie Boer, reknowned for his three-Michelin-starred restaurant De Librije in Zwolle, Netherlands passed away suddenly last week at the age of 60. A spokesperson for the restaurant confirmed his death, stating that Boer passed away from a pulmonary embolism in the Caribbean island of Bonaire. “Everyone is extremely sad and devastated. It’s incomprehensible,” said the statement. “It’s so sudden and abrupt. There is a sense of shock among the staff and family, of course.”
Under Boer’s leadership, De Librije has held three Michelin stars since 2004. It is currently the only restaurant in the Netherlands with three of the prestigious awards.
France and Spain hit back against Booking.com
Hoteliers in France and Spain have launched a joint legal action against Booking.com, aiming to fight back against what they claim are excessive commissions and anti-competitive practices. Following a EU court ruling and new Digital Markets Act regulations, hoteliers from the two countries are demanding compensation and the restoration of fair competition against the digital booking giant in a court case that could have far-reaching consequences for Europe’s online travel industry.
The moves has seen two law firms – one in Spain, one in France – collaborate to accuse Booking.com of alleged excessive commissions and anti-competitive practices. It follows a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union back in September 2024 that ended “parity clauses” forcing hotels to offer customers their best rates exclusively via the platform.
Michael Jones
